A nation, the majority of its population,
with a clear understanding of the structure and responsibility of society will
benefit from lower crime rates, a fairer distribution of wealth, and many more
people, for the right reasons, offering themselves for public office. An
indoctrination takes place upon joining new (educational or work) institutions;
outlining code of ethics and procedural guidelines to direct acceptable
behavior and maintain order. Governance is even more important and necessary
for nation building. Hence, the need for civics lessons throughout the voting
population. This category, allocated 4.33% of the nation’s total expenditure, as reported by the
office of the Auditor General 2017 and 4.49%
in the 2018 revised
estimates, while estimating 4.69%
for 2019 up by 6.75%, as published by
the Ministry of Finance, consist of positions, offices, agencies and ministries
that monitors good, moral and ethical, behavior. Such as; Ministry of Public Administration with The Personnel Department, Ministry
of Communications, The Judiciary
& The Industrial Court, Ministry
of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs, Other Heads of Expenditure
involved in Governance, The Office of the Prime Minister, and The
President & The Parliament.
The Ministry
of Public Administration and the Central Administrative Service–Tobago provides
all the essential processes, training, tools and facilities to execute the
work. The Personnel Department provides
all Human Resource Services; employs, promotes and disciplines public officers and
faces several difficult union negotiations with the potential to retard the
economy. Hence, the implementation of Government policies, programmes and
projects across all public offices, agencies and ministries, are actually done,
with 32.79% of the
Governance funding, by these public officers using said public assets.
The
Ministry of Communications, with 8.66% of the Governance funding, must also
continue to drive the National Information Communication Technology (ICT)
Strategy by helping to develop realizable and implementable initiatives to help;
both public and private sectors and academia via the National Library and
Information Systems. The ministry has finalized policies regarding its media
investments and relaunched Trinidad & Tobago Television Company Limited
(TTT). The Ministry further request specialized audio/video and computer
equipment as well as software for a digitization system to facilitate the
conversion of audio and video analogue recordings of historical and national
significance, to quality digital recordings, in line with international
archival, digital preservation and industry standards for the National Archives.
The
Judiciary & The Industrial Court, with 19.14% of the Governance funding,
enforce existing laws and settles disputes. The Judiciary performance
data must be understood in the prevailing national cultural and economic
context, including the existing infrastructure and available resources, as preparations
and adjustments continue to be urged and pursued to effect the long-term
transformation. The Judiciary doesn’t pass legislation; The Judiciary doesn’t
build judicial complexes. While, the Vision involves the ability to appreciate
the big picture; to take a systemic view; to understand concepts like case flow
management and the fact that the Judiciary is only one part of the
administration of justice and that dysfunction in any one area affects the
whole. For Instance, the slow turnover of forensic analysis; the absence of a
Public Defender’s Office; the persistence of the system of preliminary inquiries;
the underfunding of the Director of Public Prosecution DPP’s office; an
under-resourced probation department; poor evidence gathering; shortage of
physical plant; no video remand suites; push back in some quarters against the
introduction of video recorded interviews; an archaic legislative regime; the
fact that night courts were a failed experiment that keep being proposed by
those who have no idea of how the system works, etc, etc.
Ministry
of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs (AGLA), with 13.86% of the Governance funding, will continue its two separate constitutional roles;
a governmental role responsible for the administration of legal affairs and a
role as the guardian of the public interest, acting independently in a
quasi-judicial capacity, representing the community at large. Executive Policies
are vetted by the Office of the AGLA to
ensure that it conforms to existing laws. While, the ministry recognizes that
the promotion of the rule of law, and the protection of individual freedoms and
property rights, can have the greatest effect on national development if
institutional linkages are formed and maintained.
Other Heads of Expenditure involved
in Governance, with 9.62% of the Governance estimated expenditure, include the office of
the Auditor General, the Integrity Commission, Elections and
Boundaries Commission, Public Service Commission, Public Service Appeal Board,
Tax Appeal Board, Police Service Commission, Teachers Service Commission,
Environmental Commission, Equal Opportunity Tribunal and Registration, Recognition
and Certification Board, which will review and control the respected
responsibilities. With members mostly serving at the pleasure of the nation's President,
consisting mainly of statutory boards and other bodies which select, appoint,
regulate, monitor and examine decision-makers and their decisions, to foster
and employ the best practice; behaviors and efforts, under and within their
remit while, carrying out duties for the public good.
The Electorate indirectly elects and gives
the Prime Minister, the power to make and implement policies that influence
daily lives, through various ministries. The Office of the Prime Minister,
with 10.30% of the
Governance funding, forms and conducts the nation's executive cabinet,
facilitates and negotiates trade, financial and production relations with
numerous countries and international operators. The Prime Minister has signed an
agreement between neighboring Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago to supply the
Caribbean twin-island nation with as much as 500 MMcfd of natural gas from the
Mariscal Sucre region.
The People collectively transfer its moral
authority to the Office of the President. The President & The Parliament,
with 5.63% of the
Governance estimated expenditure,
must continue to serve the citizenry and make laws. Noting, all Bills
passed in both Houses of Parliament must be assented to by the President before
they become law. Remembering, The President also appoints Members of
Commissions and other senior officials and is the Commander and Chief of all
the nation’s Armed Forces. The President via statutory bodies and the parliament
through established committees examine the effectiveness and efficiency of
decisions, the moral and ethical conditions of actions, and redress lack of
decisions and actions to deliver public services.
Rationale
T.A.J
& Associates Company Limited
uses this occasion to comment on topics that have been covered, both academically
and by the mainstream media, to add its opinion and point out investment
opportunity, not to invoke any social action.
